Light Rail Could Be Coming to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City

A recent study says that a light rail between Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Amanas could be successful. From Radio Iowa...

The study looked at light rail service between the Amanas, Cedar Rapids -- including the airport -- and Iowa City. Josh Shamberger, head of the Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the next step is to ask each town along the route about its needs. According to Shamberger, people in Johnson County have a "strong interest" in some kind of rail-service option between North Liberty and Iowa City, and he adds that Cedar Falls planners might have to consider it, too.

The study uncovered one big concern for Cedar Rapids, however -- the planned expansion of a local Archer Daniel Midland plant which is expected to increase freight railroad traffic by 70 percent.

Light-rail passenger routes could be competitive, according to the report, which says they'd be limited to going about 30 miles an hour. To upgrade trains and track for high-speed transit would cost about $70 million, though Shamberger says to put that into perspective, it would cost about $400 million to add one more lane to Interstate-380 in the same area.

I wrote about this last month in a post about raising the gas tax. Here is what I said...

I would be for an increase in taxes on gasoline if that extra money went to public transportation. Increase the bus services in cities around Iowa or be brave and build a light rail from Des Moines to Ames or Cedar Rapids to Iowa City.